Alison comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the name for the son of "Ellis" or Ellis' son. Conversely, the surname could be is derived from "Alice" as in "the son of Alice." It is likely though that the name was derived from "Ellis" rather than the female personal name. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

Early Origins of the Alison family

The surname Alison was first found in the county of Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they acquired some time before 1300 the territories of their family seat at Loupe. They were descended from Angus Mor MacDonnell, Lord of the Isles, their Gaelic name was MacAllister, and it is difficult through history to distinguish one name from the other.

Early History of the Alison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alison research.Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296 and 1314 are included under the topic Early Alison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alison Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years Alison has appeared as Allison, Alison, Alinson, Allinson, McAllister, MacAllister, Ellison and many more.

Early Notables of the Alison family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Alison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alison family to Ireland

Some of the Alison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 101 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alison family to the New World and Oceana

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Alison or a variant listed above:

Alison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cohn Alison, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Alison Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Alison, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1735 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Robert Alison, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Georg Alison, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1770 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Alison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs. Alison, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Alison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Alison, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Susan Alison, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Charlotte Alison, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Gabriel Alison, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Alison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

A Alison, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840

James Alison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cairngorm" in 1863

W. C. Alison, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "St. Leonards" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Alison (post 1700)

Major General John Richardson "Johnny" Alison (1912-2011), American combat ace of World War II

Jane Alison, Australian-born, American author and editor

John R. Alison, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8 aerial victories

William Pulteney Alison FRSE FRCPE FSA (1790-1859), Scottish physician, social reformer and philanthropist, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (1836 to 1838)

Citations

^ Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)